Cleaning device



May 13, 1941. J BERRY 2,241,443

CLEANING DEVICE I Filed July 23, 1938 INVENTEIR' JH EEILBER'R'Y FIT-FY.

Patented May 13, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLEANING DEVICE J ames D. Berry, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 23, 1938, Serial No. 220,908

3 Claims.

This invention relates to cleaning implements and has special reference to means for cleaning surfaces Where liquid is employed as the principal washing medium. Facilities are provided for removably attaching a rubbing element to one end thereof and means for constantly dispersing liquid therethrough to remove dirt and foreign matters from surfaces to be cleaned. Although it is preferred to employ a sponge or the like as the rubbing means, nevertheless, other rubbing elements may be attached to the implement where more harsh and brisk rubbing is necessary; for this purpose, a soft brush or a stiff wire brush may be used.

The implements consist of a handle having a head at one end and means at the other end for attachment to a water hose or the like. The handle may have various configurations to suit the particular things and surfaces to be cleaned. When it is desired to clean the upper body portion of an automobile, the handle may consist of a relatively long tube made of aluminum or other light weight material in which one end thereof is slightly curved or bent at an angle so that the rubbing head can be easily adjusted against the various irregular surfaces so as to be most effective.

A similar handle may be employed, but somewhat shorter, for cleaning bath tubs, ceilings and walls etc. A very short handle, however, is preferred when the implement is used for cleaning dishes, and the like.

When such an implement is used for cleaning vertical surfaces, the bent or curved end of the handle allows the user thereof to stand back and away from the work a sufficient distance to avoid getting wet. In the event that some solvent other than plain water is desired as the cleaning fluid, for instance soapy water, a lather making device may be employed and connected to the hose which feeds water to the handle of the implement.

An object of this invention is to provide a cleaning device which is simple and economical to construct, and which employs a constant stream or plurality of streams of liquid through a porous or reticulated rubbing element.

Another object is to provide an implement for cleaning large flat and irregular surfaces by means which receive a constant supply of cleansing liquids or solvents.

Another object is to present a cleaning implement which has a mandrel-like head upon which can be placed removable abrasive and unabrasive a constant flow of plain water or a liquid including solvents.

Other objects, advantages and features of my invention will appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description, the preamble of these specifications, and the appended claims.

Applicant has illustrated and is about to describe one of the forms of his invention in order to teach one how to make, use and vend the same. The inventor is well aware that his invention is susceptible of other forms and modifications and does not wish to confine himself to that expressed and disclosed in the drawing and description. It is to be understood that the drawing and description thereof are not to limit the invention in any sense whatsoever, except as limited by the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a form of the invention in elevation attached to a flexible garden hose.

Fig. 2 shows a bottom view of the head of the invention taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, but with the handle removed.

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged side View of the head partly broken away to show parts in section, but with the clamping means removed.

Fig. 4 shows an auxiliary attachment for the head.

The numeral I indicates, in general, the head of the cleaning device, and 2 the handle attached thereto. One end of the handle is provided with a pivoted coupling 3 which is internally threaded and of proper size to accommodate the threaded male end of a garden hose 5. This construction is old and well known to the art. The hose 5 may be, in the event that the device is of small dimensions, a small rubber tube. A small rubber tube is preferred when the device is used for cleaning dishes and other small things.

The handle 2 has a straight portion 6 and another portion which may be of most any kind of configuration and length to suit the purposes intended, but in the present form of the invention, it is elongated. It has one end 1 thereof which is bent at an angle for convenience in properly reaching irregular surfaces somewhat distant from the user thereof. This form of handle is particularly useful when the device is used for cleaning automobiles and the like.

The top end of the handle is threaded as at 8 to receive the pivoted coupling 9 attached to the head I. This coupling has an inturned lip l0 around its perimeter to loosely engage a short tube II. This tube has an out-turned lip l2 around its perimeter to engage the lip Ill in frictional relation in a manner well known to the manufacturers of such equipment.

'A rubber gasket I3 is provided to engage the end of the pipe 6 when it is screwed tightly into the coupling 9 so as to prevent leakage of liquid at this point. The tube is soldered or otherwise securely fixed into the bore of the neck M of an outwardly flared and curvedbowl element I5. The outer end of the bowl [6 has an annular flange [6 which is externally threaded to receive the internally threaded flange ll of a cap or spray nozzle head l8. The outer curved sur face of the head is provided with a plurality of holes 18 to permit escape of water or any other liquid which enters the passage I9 of the head from the pipe 6. The cap I8 is configurated as shown and has an annular curved recessed portion 26 for a purpose to be presently explained.

A clamping device is employed for holding various porous or reticulated rubbing elements against the face of the cap and comprises the following equipment: the collars 2i which are securely fixed to the neck I4 as by soldering, welding, and the like, and which are provided with out-turned ears 22 and 23. They are provided with holes 24 near their outer extremities and which are of proper size to receive the pintels 25 and 26.- The pintels 25 and 2% are each provided with at least two clamping hooks 2'! and a third intermediate clamping hook 28. One end of the hooks is fixed to their respective pintels by soldering or welding, and the other end has suificient length to extend to the annular recess Zfiwhen the hooks are in their uppermost position. Cross bars 29 are positioned as shown and securely fixed to their respective adjacent hooks 21, and 28 by soldering or welding. By this construction, the hooks can easily be moved so that their ends can engage the recess 26 or be permitted to fall back away from the recess by rocking the pintels 25 and 26.

One end of each pintel is sleeved with a spring 33 having one leg 3! extended and curved to engage a part of its adjacent ear 22, and another leg thereof extended and curved to engage a portion of the hook 2'! as shown. By this arrangement, the hooks are always urged in posimoved whenever desired by merely pulling down on-the hooks or cross bars 29. By this construction, the rubbing element can always be removed for cleaning or for replacement.

Waterfro'm the garden hose enters the pipe 6 and flows through the passage [9, then passes through the small holes l8 and into the sponge 33 to keep it constantly wet with fresh water for final rinsing of the surface being cleaned or con-' stantly supplied with a solvent solution. The sponge can always be easily removed for wringing when desiredand used in the usual manual manner.

The above described cleaning device utilizing the sponge end is particularly desired for cleaning polished surfaces such as the surfaces of an automobile and its windows. But, however, when it is desired to clean the under-carriage of an automobile where it is not so important to prevent scratching of the surfaces, the brush shown in Fig. 4 may be employed.

The brush comprises an annular ring 34 which is internally threaded at 35 and adapted to be screwed upon the end l8 of the bowl shown in Fig. 3 after the cap l3 has been removed. A disc of hard rubber or the like 36 is securely held to the ring as in any suitable manner. The disc is provided with numerous liquid outlet holes 31 staggered and spaced from the holes 38 to accommodate the brush tufts 38. The tufts may be set in vulcanized rubber or in any other suitable way to securely hold the bristles in place.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cleaning device, a head having a plurality of complementary parts including a perforated cap and a flared body portion, means for releasably jointing the cap and body portion, a hollow porous element upon said cap covering the perforations thereof and adapted to receive liquid passing through the perforations, an annular recess about the periphery of the cap, clamping means having curved prongs adapted to engage the porous element and press portions of it into said recess, straps fixed to the body portion having outwardly extending ears, holes in'said ears. a pintle journalled in the holes and having portions thereof fixed to a group of said prongs.

, 2. In a cleaning device, a head having a plurality of complementary parts, a perforated cap and a flared body portion, means for releasably joining the cap and body portion, a hollow porous element upon said cap covering the perforations thereof and adapted to receive liquid passing through the perforations, an annular recess about the periphery of the cap, clamping means having curved prongs adapted to engage the porous element and press portions of it into said recess, straps fixed to'the body portion having outwardly extending ears, holes in said cars, a pintle journalled in the holes and having portions thereof fixed to a group of said prongs, spring means attached to the pintle for urging the prongs into the annular recess.

3. In a cleaning device, a head having a perforated face and means in connection therewith for attachment to a fluid supply duct, annular recess about the periphery of the head situated between the face and said means, a sponge with a cavity having portions snugly fitting said face and said recess, supporting ears near said means, a plurality of fingers pivoted to the ears, said fingers being curved and of sufficient length to reach said recess, means associated with the fingers for urging their ends tightly against the sponge portions in the recess so that fluid passing through the duct into the head is forced through the sponge.

JAMES D. BERRY. 

